Associate Director

WAGGENER EDSTROM WORLDWIDE SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader to drive business development in the Tech & Health sector. This role involves spearheading new business pitches, nurturing client relationships, and providing strategic counsel to clients. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in PR and integrated communication, with a strong focus on digital marketing. You will lead a talented team, manage significant client portfolios, and engage with key stakeholders. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have a passion for technology and healthcare, this is your chance to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in PR or integrated communication.
• Strong knowledge of the Tech & Healthcare sector is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead new business pitches and identify opportunities for growth.
• Manage client relationships and ensure program success within budget.
• Mentor team members and oversee resource allocation.

Skills

Business Development

Client Relationship Management

Strategic Thinking

Digital Marketing

Team Leadership

Crisis Management

Presentation Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Communications or related field

Job description

Job Responsibilities:

New Business Development (New Clients/Organic Growth)

• To spearhead new business pitches, identify new opportunities, and determine prospective business to pursue for the Tech & Health group
• Responsible for the deepening of existing client relationships and (where it brings added value to our clients), the growth and diversification of these businesses
• Partner with WE Comms teams across the global network to pursue cross-account / practices & global business opportunities
• Business Acumen and Strategic Thinking:
• Understands how purpose-driven communication drives brand connection and trust among organisations, their leaders, and their stakeholders.
• Be responsible for a client portfolio in the ballpark of >$3 million in annual revenue
• Offers strategic and senior counsel to crises, business challenges, and opportunities that clients are looking to solve; the individual should be able to strategize and find solutions and strategic rationales, insights that drive the outcomes, through strategic narratives and an integrated approach in delivery.
• Be responsible for team utilization, financial & resource management
• Contribute to agency strategic planning initiatives
• Educate & oversee team on cross agency activity
• Ability to detect & mitigate possible issues, conflicts & disruptions in the over WE Comms business

Client Engagement:

• Lead strategic client engagements for selected clients / counterparts in the Tech & Health business group
• Serve as senior counsel for all clients in the Tech & Health business group
• Demonstrated track record and success in nurturing, growing and sustaining client relationships
• Sets the standard and leads by example to inspire the respective client teams to implement communication programs and assessment of campaign success in accordance with client planning process
• Manages and tracks budgets ensuring programs are delivered on budget and exceeds client’s expectations

Stakeholder Influence Engagement:

• Manage, build, and grow relationships with key, senior level stakeholders (media, analysts, key opinion leaders etc.)
• Demonstrated networks and connections with stakeholders such as industry and institutional partners in the Tech & Healthcare ecosystem
• Understands the strategic imperative of risk management, issues, and scenario planning on behalf of our clients in the Tech & Health group
• Able to represent WE Comms to stakeholders such as industry groups, forums, and platforms and serve as a sterling ambassador for the WE brand in Singapore

Digital Marketing Acumen:

• Fluent in strategic narrative developments, integrated communication approaches, and key techniques of harnessing analytics and digital marketing
• Able to embed WE Comms’ digital agenda into key client businesses to drive greater accountability, impact, and influence for the work we do

People Leadership:

• Demonstrated experience in mentoring and motivating team members in the ballpark of a 3-level-span of control, with the goal of retention and development
• Oversee resource allocation across team including staffing/hiring/on boarding new talent
• Help ensure team is cross-trained & have a broad understanding of other businesses
• Partner with Human Resources to manage any employee relations issues
• Manage up & educate senior staff on crisis issues, & client/team satisfaction
• Model & hold team accountable to demonstrating agency values and WE Comms’ professional standards

Requirements:

• Minimum 8 years of experience preferably from a PR / integrated communication agency setting environment, along with 4 – 5 years of people management experience, managing a team
• Client and business environment: Customer service orientation is a must. Job pressure may exist from the requirement of handling multiple tasks
• Sound knowledge and passion for the Tech & Healthcare sector is a requirement
• Fast-paced team environment (frequent tight deadlines, multitasking, etc.)
• Roll your sleeves up, lead-from-the-front style leadership. Does more than directs
• Strong presentation and consulting skills, business development skills, along with good track-record of winning business pitches
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required. A second regional language such as Mandarin would be a bonus